Morning News Update for Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

Less than a week after ABC put a Shondaland comedy series into development, the network has a Catholic-based drama in the works. The untitled project from writer-exec producer Alison Schapker revolves around a group of Catholic nuns fighting the closure of their Bronx-based convent who must suddenly deal with three young novices whose arrival unearths long-buried secrets. Hailing from ABC Studios, the “Brides of Christ”-inspired drama marks the second sale for Shondaland this season. (http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/shondaland-developing-catholic-nun-ensemble-drama-for-abc-1201578310/)

“Mistresses” showrunner Rina Mimoun is working on a drama project for ABC that will examine the contemporary experience of immigrants in America. “Indivisible” revolves around the tenuous friendship of a single mother newly transplanted to New York and her devout Islamic neighbor. The pair’s relationship is tested when the love affair between their children sets off a global jihad. Mimoun is writing and will exec produce with Gary Randall for ABC Studios. (http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/rina-mimoun-abc-drama-indivisible-mistresses-everwood-1201578152/)

Marti Noxon is getting into the restaurant biz for a new series with Fox. Titled “Hungry,” the drama, which is in early development at the network, is an hour long soap set in the down and dirty, cutthroat and exciting restaurant world of New York City. Noxon will serve as an exec producer with Meryl Poster and Nina Colman, who penned the script. (http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/marti-noxon-fox-series-hungry-1201577577/)

The ‘Welcome to Sweden’ star will topline the John Scott Shepherd comedy, with Rachel Blanchard set as the female lead. The series centers on Jack (Poehler) and Emma (Blanchard), a happily married couple who are coming off several years of "baby sex" and fertility struggles. A waning sex life and a sequence of surprising turns are about to spin their relationship in a direction neither could have imagined. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/greg-poehler-star-directv-comedy-817422)

All3media International has signed major deals with France 3 and German network ZDF for Safe House, the new high-end mini-series featuring Emmy-winning actor Christopher Eccleston. Written and created by Michael Crompton, Safe House tells the story of a married couple – ex-police detective Robert (Eccleston) and school teacher Katy (Thomason), who turn their guest house, set in a remote and idyllic part of the Lake District, into a police safe house. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/christopher-eccleston-starrer-safe-house-817827)

On Sept. 4, the Walt Disney Company and retail partners around the world – more than 1,000 stores are opening at midnight — will begin selling products themed to the coming film “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Positioned by Disney-owned Lucasfilm as “Force Friday,” it will be fans’ first opportunity to scrutinize certain characters and vehicles from the new movie, which arrives in December. (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/business/media/big-push-by-disney-on-star-wars-merchandise.html)

Knowing that many TV viewers watch their favorite shows with smartphone in hand, network execs are keenly aware of the power of the perfect hashtag. "There is truly an art to the hashtag. It’s a language all its own," said Colleen Mohan, svp of brand marketing for USA Network. "It’s like writing a headline or a jingle. And we put a lot of effort into them."